Fluoroscopy-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block Reduces Early Postoperative Pain Following Lumbar Fusion: A Randomized Controlled Trial Publisher



Jahangiri P ; Bagherzadeh S ; Roohollahi F ; Aeenfar K ; Jouibari MF ; Aziz W ; Nour El Dine MHA ; Rostami M ; Alikhani P
Source: Global Spine Journal Published:2026

Abstract

Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Objective: Postoperative pain after lumbar spine surgery remains a clinical challenge. Fluoroscopy-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has been proposed as a feasible technique for reducing pain and opioid use, particularly when ultrasound guidance is not available. Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, 80 patients undergoing two to five levels of posterior lumbar fusion with single-level discectomy and interbody fusion were assigned to receive either fluoroscopy-guided ESPB with ropivacaine, dexamethasone, and saline or placebo. Pain intensity (Numerical Rating Scale), opioid consumption (Morphine Equivalent Dose), and other postoperative outcomes were assessed at 4, 24, 48, 72 h, and 6 months. Results: The ESPB group reported significantly lower axial pain scores at 4 and 24 h postoperatively (P = 0.017 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Opioid consumption was also significantly lower in the ESPB group during the first 48 h (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in radicular pain, patient satisfaction, time to ambulation, or hospital length of stay. At 6 months, both groups showed similar pain scores and rates of over-the-counter analgesic use. Infection rates were low and comparable between groups. Conclusion: Fluoroscopy-guided ESPB appears to be a safe and effective adjunct for reducing early postoperative pain and opioid requirements following posterior lumbar fusion. However, its benefits diminish beyond the immediate postoperative period, and it does not significantly impact long-term outcomes. © The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work as published without adaptation or alteration, without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).